Device for catching mail and fuel by an airplane in flight



June 12, 1923. 1,458,710 s. W. KOLCZEWSKI DEVICE FOR IATCHING MAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE IN'FLI GHT Filed June 19, 1918 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 r I j wvewrak A% Sepizen 7flol.czewik Arrekqiu June 12, 1923.

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June 12, 1923.

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June 12, 1923. 1,458,710

S. W..KOLCZEWSKI DEVICE FOR CATCHING MAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE INFLIGHT' Fa'l e i June 19, 1918 I s S e ts-sheet;

I mvENw June 12, 1923. 1,458,710

'5. w. KOLCZ'EWSKI DEVICE FOR CATCHING MAIL AND FUEL BY AN. AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT FiledJun e 19, 19 1a 4 a Shjeets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS June 12, 1923.' v

- s. w. KOLCZEWSKI DEVICE FOR cmcnme MAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE IN FLIGH'I Filed June 19, 1918 a Sheets-Sheet a SFM RN ATTOMJEVS June 12, 1922.. 1,458,710

5. w. KOLCZEWSKI DEVICE FOII CATCHING MAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE IN. FLIGHT.

Fil ed June 19, 1918, a Sheets-Sheet '2 v ramvss June 12,- 1923.

s. w. KOLCZEWSKH DEVICE FOR QATCHING MAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT INVENTOR Fatented June 12, 1923.

Kiwi? STEPHEN W. KOLCZEWSKI, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR CATCHING HAIL AND FUEL BY AN AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT.

Application filed June 19, 1918. Serial No. 240,840.

To all whom it ma. concern:

Be it known that STEPHEN W. KoLczEW- SKI, a subject of Russian Poland, who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Catching Mail and Fuel by an Airplane in Flight, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in catching devices it being more particularly in the nature of an improvement in means intended primarily for use on airplanes for catching and hauling objects from the ground to the airplane while the latter is in flight.

An object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of correlated devices located both on the ground and in the airplane, whereby such objects as mail, fuel, etc., may be caught up from the ground and hauled up-to the airplane.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the class described which includes a guidin device located on the ground with a suita le support for an object such as .a bag of mail, a can of fuel, etc-, and means carried by the airplane arranged to be let down to sweep toward the-contracted throat of the guiding device toward the object to catch it up, whereupon the object is hauled up to the airplane.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the invention,

Figure 2 is a detail plan view of a portion of the guides and the object carrying platform,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the guides shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail view hereinafter described,

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the object suspending ring with a mail pouch sus ended therefrom.

igure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 6,

.vention' may be briefly stated as bein Figure is a plan view of the suspending rm showing the entrance open,

igure 9 1s a section on the line 99 of 'Fi ure 8,

igure 10 is a longitudinal section of the suspending ring showing the entrance closed,

Figure 11 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of Figure 8,

Figure 12 1s a front elevation of the ring with the entrance closed,

Figure 13 is a detail plan view of the airplane-carried hoisting mechanism,

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the airplane body showing the hoisting mechanism on the inside,

Figure 15 is a detail versing mechanism,

Figure 16 is a detail viewof the driving mechanism,

Figure 17 is a detail view of a safety catch used inconnection with the hoisting drum,

plan view of the re- Figure 18 is a sectional view of the catching ball suspended from the airplane, showa ing the shock absorbing mechanism on the inside, and

' Figure 19 is another sectional viewof the catching ball. I Byv way of preface the object of theinintended to provide simply constructe devices carried both by an airplane and located atsuitable places on the ground, by means of which the aviator may practically reach down and ather up such intended or necessar artic es as a mail pouch or a supply of uel. In order that the various parts of the invention may be fully understood, attention is first directed to the guides which consist in the present instance of a pair of walls 1. These walls as is clearly shown in Figure 1, converge to a constricted outlet or throat 2 through which the cable I 3 which hangs from an airplane by virtue of on the platform to be caught up. Suitably designated fuel stations ma be located along an airplane mail route so t lat if the aviator finds himself short of fuel he may practicall reach down and gather up a fresh r a v The illustration in F1 we 4 indicates that the invention is intend e d primarily to be used in connection with an airplane mail route. In actual oractice the mail stations will consist of sue arrangements as shown in Figure 1, whereby the mail pouches from the various stations along the route may be gathered u without involving the necessity of lan ing at each station. This is a general statement of the purpose of the invention and this being now understood, attention is again directed to the construction of the guides.

These consist of walls which are made of any suitable material such as wire netting as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upperedges are reinforced by'angle irons 7 which extend. forwardly in a horizontal plane above and beyond the sloping members 8 which reach forwardly into proximity to the place where the mail pouch 6 is located. This sloping portion provides an outlet for the ball 4. The walls 1 are supported by suitably trussed standards 9, and the entire "structure is further braced by guy cables 10 which are arranged in any suitable manner.

Supported on the forwardly projecting portions oithe angle irons 7 is the releasing mechanism which comprises a hinge connec tion 11 by means of which the hinged ring supporting plates 12' are'inounted. These plates are thus hinged'in order to impart a certain amount of fiexibility to the releasing mechanism. The ball 4 in departing-from the outlet 8 has a tendency to move in an oblique direction as indicated in Figure 5. This u ward movement of the ball is partly expen ed on the releasing mechanism which by virtue of the hinge connection 11 swings upwardly as shown in Figure 5 to allow the removal of the mail pouch and more particularly its suspending ring without binding or breaking any of the parts.

Mounted on laterally projecting arms 13 are leaf springs 14 with lugs 15. Each lug includes a recess with an inwardly projecting lip. The recess receives a boss 16 of the pouch suspending ring 17, and the lip forms a support for the boss in each instance. A latch 18 is pivoted at 19 to one of the supporting. plates 12. A leaf spring 20 beneath ithe latch tends to prcss it upwardly.

A pivoted releasing arm 21 extends across the throat 2 in the path of the cable 3. When the arm 21 is engaged by the cable, it is swung on its pivot so as to cause the head 22 toride backwards and release the latch 18 whereupon the latch springs upwardly by virtue of the spring 20 beneath it. The

latch has a roller 23 which lessens the fricinseam tion in riding over the inclined surface oi the head 22.

Guards 24 fixed on the hinged portion of the releasing mechanism, enable the separation of the suspending ropes 36 to keep the passage of the ball 4 clear. Stops 25 support the hinged releasing mechanism in the normal position illustrated in Figure 1.

The suspending ring 17 is hollow as shown in Figure 10 and is separated to provide an entrance 26. The entrance coincides with the throat 2 when the ring 17 is set in position on the releasing mechanism, so that the cable 3 may enter the ring and enable the suspension of the mail pouch 6 from the airplane by virtue of the ball 4:. The ball 4 is arger than the opening in the ring as indicated in Figure 5.

On the inside of the ring 17 there is a spring 27 which abuts a stop 28 at one end and presses against a lock 29 at the other. The lock 29 has a notch 30 which is occupied by the nose 31 of the latch 18 when the lock is in the retracted position. At this time, the entrance 26 is open. The retracted and in Figure 8. The operation of the releasing arm 21 by the cable 3 as formerly described, serves to release the lock 29 by the release of the latch 18, whereupon the entrance 26 is closed to prevent a possible escape of the cable 3.

A pin 32 carried by the lock 29 works in a slot 33 on the inner periphery of the ring 17. This arrangement prerentsany tendency of the lock to turn. A catch 34 on the other side of the ring holds the lock 29 in the other extremity of its two positions as shown in Figure 10. The catch 34 is retracted against the tension of a s ring and to release the catch head of the ock, by a finger piece 35 which is exposed on the inside of the ring as shown.

Ropes 36 support the mail pouch 6 from the suspending ring 17. These ropes are latched position of the lock 29 is indicated preferably of wire and are fixed in the equidistantly spaced suspending lugs 37 by means of the arrangement shown in Figure 7. Each of the lugs has a thimble 38 which is swaged in the lug. The thimble widens out into a cup-shaped to which is occupied by the knotted end of t e rope. Solder is poured into this cup shaped top and around the knotted end thus uniting the rope and the thimble. A similar arrangement obtains at the lower ends of the ropes 36 where they; are joined with the jaws of the mail pouch. I

The catching ball 4: has a' drum 39 on the inside, upon which the lower end of the cable 3 is wound. The drum 39 rotates on a shaft 40 and has suitable roller bearings by means of which the drum is made to rotate freely. A similarly mounted guide spool 41 guides the cable 3 on the drum. Springs 42 which act on the drum 39 by virtue of a connecting rod 43, keep the cable 3 wound on the drum 39. The end of the cable it is to be observed, is fixed in the drum by'the same means employed to secure the ropes 36 in Figure 7 The mechanism just described is intended to absorb the shock of the impact of the catching ball 4 on the releasing mechanism. It can be readily understood that an airplane moving forwardly at a tremendous speed might readily tear the releasing mechanism apart Were'theshock absorbing mechanism inside of the catching ball not provided. fvithen the ball 4 engages the sus ending fing 17 and the travel of the ball is temporarily impeded, the cable 3 will lengthen by virtue of the unwinding of the rum 39. This occurs against the tension of the springs 42. The mail pouch having been freed from the releasing mechanism, it is drawn up to the airplane by the hoisting mechanism which is carried thereby.

The upper end of the cable 3 is wound on a drum 44. The hoisting drum is mounted on a shaft 45. One end of the shaft carries the rotating and reversing mechanism illustrated in Figure 15. A pair of bevel gears 46, 47 are splined on the shaft 45, These are alternately engaged by a drive pinion 48 which is driven from the motor crank shaft 49 by means of the flexible shaft 50. The shaft 50 is flexible in that it includes a universally coupled member and a membermechanism carried thereby and provides a bearing for the shaft of the driving gear 48. The coacting surfaces of the bosses 54 and 55 on the arms and yoke respectively, are formed into co perating lugs and recesses which have straight and inclined end walls. When both arms 52 and 53 are moved rearwardly, the lugs and recesses on both sides engage by virtue of the pressure of the-' This indicates a neutral posi-' spring 51. tion Where no driving action occurs.

When the arm 52 is pulled forwardly as shown, the inclined walls of the lugs ride 7 up the inclined-walls of the recesses in the boss 55 so that the bevel gear 46 is pressed inwardly into engagement with the driving gear 48. This causes the drum 44 to either Wind up or pay out the cable 3 according to the direction of the rotation of the shaft 45. The same operation takes place when the other handle is pulled forwardly, but the drum 44 of course rotates in the opposite direction.

The shaft 50 commencesits rotation simultaneously with the operation of either handle in the forwarddirection.

top and when tension is applied to the member 58 through either of the flexible connec- Ordinarily when the handles are pressed rearvvardly,

tions 57, the toggle arms 60 are drawn to-I Ward each other by virtue of the toggle lever 59 and-against the tension of springs 61.,

These springs normally separate the arms 60.

The end of the crank shaft 49 extends between the arms 60. Rollers 62 carried byv one toggle arm are arranged 1 to engage theshaft at one side' A friction roller 63 carried by the other tog le arm is arranged to engage the shaft on t e other side. The

speed of rotation of the shaft 50 is reduced from that of the crank shaft 49-by means of the reducing gears 64 which are geared up to the friction roller 63. The seat 50 occupied by the observer and located near the reversing mechanism, is reversible as shown so that he may readily turn around and operate the mechanism when required, H

In the event of a breakage of any of the parts of the reversing mechanism, the safety device illustrated in Figure 17 is operated.

-When the hoisting drum 44 is operated, the

observer presses on the dog 65 so that the ratchet 66 on the end of the drum is disengaged. Should a breakage occur during the hoisting operation, the rotation .of the hoisting drum is checked by releasing the dog 65 when it flies into contact With the ratchet 66 by means of the spring beneath the treadle end thereof. v

The operation.Any desired number of the V-shaped guides illustrated in Figure 1 are located at stations on the ground. A mail pouch 6 or in'fact any other object, that is to be transmitted to an airplane, is set on the platform 5.

The mail pouch 6 has a suspending ring 17 which is clamped in position in the releasing mechanism of the V-shaped guide by means of the pressure of the lugs 15 against the bosses 16. The releasing mechanism is hinged as shown and the suspending ring remains in the position indicated in Figures 2 and 4; until an airplane comes along.

The observer turns around in his seat, pulls the handle 53 so that the hoisting drum 44 is rotated to pay the cable 3 out. This lowers the catching ball 4 into a plane below the throat 2. The cable 3 finally strikes the releasing arm 21 of the releasing mechares iii

nism. The latch 18 thus becoming disengaged by the head 22, flies upwardly by virtue of the spring 20. The lock 29 of the ring 17 is thus freed and springs across the entrance 26, locking the cable inside of the ring. The ball 4 is larger than the central opening of the ring 17 and thus becomes the suspending or gripping member for the mail pouch 6 from the airplane.

The advantages of the shock absorbing mechanism inside of the catching ball 4 have already been described at length. The cable wound on the drum 39 inside of the ball, unwinds when the drum rotates against the tension of the springs 42. This freedom of movement is what absorbs the shock of the impact of the ball on the releasing mechanism. The upward and oblique movement of the suspending ring 17 as it do parts from the releasing mechanism, is taken care of by hinging the releasing mechanism so that it may swing upwardly as illustrated in Figure 5.

While the construction and arrangement of the device as herein described and illustrated is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the claims.

1. Supply means for aircraft, comprising guide means including a throat, releasing mechanism located at said throat and including a pair of spring arms arranged to I hold a suspending ring of a receptable in position, said suspending ring having an entrance in coincidence with said throat for receiving a weighted cable pendent from an airplane, and bosses carried by said ring engaged by said spring arms to hold the ring in position and enabling the releasing of said ring from the releasing mechanism when the weight on the cable engages the ring.

2. In a device of the class described, guide means including a throat, a platform arran ed adjacent to said throat, releasing mec anism mounted adjacent to said throat, means embodied in said mechanism for supporting a suspending member of a receptacle resting on the platform, said suspending member having a cable entrance coinciding with the throat, means embodied in said member for closing the entrance,

and means carried by the releasing mechanism normally holding said entrance closing means in a retracted position and arranged be operated by a cable with a gripping means, to release said entrance closing means and prevent the cable from escaping irom the: ring after the gripping means is in position.

3. Supply means for aircraft, comprising guide with a throat, including forneeavio holding means mounted on said arms iueluding leaf springs having lugs with recesses and lips, said recesses and lips beingarranged to receive and support bosses of a suspending ring said ring having an entrance coinc1ding with the throat, a spring pressed lock with a notch operating in said. ring and arranged to close said entrance, means including a latch embodied in the releasing mechanism arranged to enga e the notch and hold the lock in the retracted position to leave the entrance of the ring open, and means including a pivoted releasing arm including a portion bearing on the latch and holding it in the lock retaining position and a portion bridging the throat to be engaged by an airplane-carried cable passing through the throat. 4. Supply means for aircraft, comprising guides including a throat, a platform, releasing mechanism pivotally mounted at the end or' the throat, resilient means embodied in said mechanism for supporting the suspending ringof a receptacle on the platform said receptacle and ring being joine by ropes, said ring having an entrance coinciding with the throat to admit an airplane carried cable having a catching ball to engage the ring and remove it from said rcsilient supporting means, and means including guards carried by the releasing mechanism for separating certain of the ropes to prevent entanglement of the catching ball.

5. In a device as described, guides including angle irons bounding the upper edges and terminating in a contracted throat, forwardly extending inclined portions below the members of said throat, a releasing mechanism hingedly mounted on the members of said throat and disposed above said inclined portions, holding means embodied in said releas ing mechanism including a pair of spring arms having lugs with recesses and lips for receiving and holding the bosses of a suspending ring having a rope-attached receptacle resting on the platform, said ring being separated to form an entrance coincident with the throat, a spring actuated lock in the ring arranged to close the entrance, retractible means for latching the lock in the locking position, guards for keeping certain of said ropes separated, a latch carried by the releasing mechanism with a nose for holding the lock in the retracted position, a spring "for pressing the latch upwardly, a roller carried by the latch,'and a releasing arm pivoted on the releasing mechanism including, a head with an inclined portion coop crating with said roller and including a portion reaching across said throat to be engaged by an airplane-carried cable in sweep- L- i tacle arranged to contain mail, said receiving ing toward the suspending ring, said releasing arm then disengaging the latch and freeing said lock.

6. In a device of the class described, guide means elevated above the ground on posts, converging into a narrow passage, spring arms arranged at the narrow passage to hold a receiving device having a narrow entrance leading to a larger openingin the center, said receivingdevice being connected with a recepdevice. being held under the ends of said guides at the narrow passage to bring the narrow opening and said passage into communication, said passage and opening being arranged to receive a cablesuspended from aircraft with a ball secured to the end of said cable, said ball being larger than the center opening of the receiving device so as to pull said receiving device away from its support.

7. In a device of the class described, guide means including a narrowpassage, spring arms arranged to hold a receiving ring with a narrow entrance, said ring being held by said spring arms under the ends of said guides at the narrow passage to bring the narrow bpening of said ring into communication with said passage, a lock in the ring, a spring for actuating the look, a latch for holding the lock in a retracted position, said latch having a roller, a releasing arm pivoted at one end tosaid guides, having a shorter end shaped to have a narrow flat space on the bottom with an incline on the side said narrow fiatespace engaging the roller, the longer end of said arm extending across the narrow passage and in back of the ring entrance, said arm being actuated by a passing cable suspended from aircraft causing the rocking of the arm and the release of the latch and enabling the closing of the ring entrance by the lock, and a ball carried by the cable, of" a diameter larger than the opening in the ring to cause the pulling .aW ay of the ring.

8. In a device of the class described, guide means with a narrow passage, a pair of spring arms arranged to hold a recelving ing held by said spring ring with a narrow entrance, said ring bearms under the ends of said guides at the narrow passage to bring the narrow opening of said ring into communication with said passage, a lock in the ring, a spring for actuating the lock, a latch for holding the lock in a retracted position, said latch having a roller, a releasing arm pivoted at one end to said guides, havin a shorter end shaped to have a narrow at space on the bottom with an incline on the side said narrow fiat space engaging the roller, the longer end of said arm extending across the narrow passageeand in back of the ring entrance, said arm being actuated by a passing cable suspended from aircraft causing the rocking of the arm and the re posts, said guides being set in a V formation and converging into a narrow passage, a pair of spring arms arranged to hold a receiving ring with a narrow entrance, said ring being held by said spring arms under the ends of said guides at the narrow passage to bring the narrow opening of said ring into communication with said passage, a lock in the ring, a spring for actuating the lock, a latch for holding. the lock in a retracted position, said latch, having a roller, :1 releasing arm pivoted at one end to said guides, having a shorter end shaped to have a narrow fiat space on the bottom with an incline on the side said narrow fiat space engaging the roller, thelonger end of said arm extending {across the narrow passage and vin back of the ring entrance, said arm being actuated by a passing cable suspended from aircraft causing the rocking of the arm and the release of the latch and enabling the closing of the ring entrance by the look, a ball carried by the cable, of a diameter larger than the opening in the ring to cause the pulling away of the ring from said spring arms, the other end of said airplane carried cable being wound on'a drum shaft in the aircraft, said shaft being arranged to be driven to wind up the cableand draw the suspending ring With the receptacle to the aircraft, a reversing mechanism comprising gear, a flexible shaft for said driving gear,

a spur gear on the other end of said shaft,

driving mechanism cooperating with said spur gear including friction pulley devices arranged to engage the end of the crank shaft of an airplane motor, toggle arms supporting said driving mechanism and arranged to convey the friction pulley into contact with the end of the crank shaft of an airplane motor, a pair of pivoted arms having cams coacting with cams on the bevel pinions to shift one or the other of said pinions, into. engagement with the driving pinion upon the movement of the corresponding arm, flexible connections between the short ends of said arms and said toggle arms to secure the simultaneous rotation of the shaft with the shifting of the companion bevel pinion, and means coacting with the winding drum. for preventing the unwinding of the cable in the event of a breakage in the hoisting mechanism, said means including a ratchet on the winding shaft and a pivoted spring pressed dog.

10. Supply means for aircraft, comprising catching means swung from the aircraft, means arranged to support supplies catching means, whereupon sai latch hold ing means is engaged to release the latch as the ring departs with the bag catching means. l

11. Supply means for aircraft, comprising an anchor to which the supplies are attached, said anchor having a receiving throat; means for normally holding said anchor but permitting detachment thereof,

means depending from an aircraft, including gripping means; means for guiding said. depending and gripping means into the anchor throat, and means for closing the throat to prevent the loss of the supplies from said anchor by a loosening of said anchor anda relaxation in the tension of said depending means.

12; Supply means for aircraft, compris ing an anchor, a fiexible tie for connecting the suppliesto said anchor, means'for normally holding said anchor but permitting ascent thereof, said flexible tie passing over said holding means; acable with gripping means depending from the aircraft, said anchor having a throat adapted to receive said cable and be engaged by said gripping means, means for guiding said cable into said throat, and means for preventing departure of said gripping means from said throat upon relaxationjof tension in said cable. 1

13. Supply means for aircraft, comprising an anchor with a receiving throat, re-

silient and upwardly movable means for supporting the anchor, and means depending from the aircraft, with gripping means ing an anchor with a receiving throat, resllient means for supporting. the anchor,

means depending from the aircraft, with gripping means to disengage the anchor from its supporting means. after the depending means enters the throat, and means including a releasing arm, actuated at substantially the same time to free a lock for the closure of the throat.

15. Supply means for aircraft, comprising an anchor with a throat, a lock embodled in the anchor, and supporting means for the anchor including means for hold- I ing the lock retracted from the throat while the anchor remains on the sup ortL 16. Supply means for aircraft, including a member pendent from an aircraft, means carried by said member for engaging the supplies, and means embodied in said carried means for absorbing the shock of engagement with said supplies.

17. Gripping means for aircraft, including a cable pendent from an aircraft, supply gripping means carried by the cable, comprising a casing containing means on which the cable is wound, and associated cable-releasing mechanism for gradually paying out a certain length of cable on engagement of supplies by said gripping means, to absorb the shock of engagement, 1 18. Supply means for aircraft, ncluding a cable pendent from an aircraft, supply gripping means carried by the cable including a casing with a drum having the cable wound thereon, and tension means in connection wlth the drum, against whlch a certain length of cable pays off from the drum upon engagement of supplies by the gripping means, to absorb the shock of engagement.

STEPHEN w. KOLCZEWSKI. 

